Adjustable reed



'T. W. BEYER ADJUSTABLE REED Filed April 18, 1941 Sept. 28, 1943.

INVENTOR. THOMAS W BEYER ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 28, 1943A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE REED Thomas W. Beyer, San Rafael, Calif. Y Application April 1s, 1941, serial No. 389,126

6 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable reeds.

A reed is a thin elastic tongue of flexible vibrating material supported at one end and held in the path of the current of air in certain ymusical instruments. 'I'he reed is secured to a reed t block or other fixture over an opening, as in the reed organ or accordion or the like musical instruments, and it is set in vibration by an air current forced through said opening. A reed is beating or striking when it overlaps the opening, and is termed a free reed when it plays freely within the opening'.

The usual reed vibrator in musical instruments is a thin metal tongue xed at one end. The reed vibrator vibrates freely either in surrounding space, as in the accordionand concertina, or enclosed in a pipe or channel, as in certain reed stops of the organ or in the harmonium. Sound waves are generated by the vibrations of the reed.v In some instruments the air current is created by blowing the air directly by the breath of the performer, such as in the harmonica; and

in other instruments the wind supply is obtained by mechanical devices, such as the bag of the bag pipe instrument, or the bellows of such keyboard instruments as in the accordion, organ or harmonium.

The wind or current of air fed through the openings, for instance from bellows, isbroken up into periodic air puffs. At its entrance into the channel or box the air flow is alternately checked or allowed by the vibrator so as to cause alternate pulses of condensation and rarefaction in the air passage thereby to cause the desired sound.y On keyboard instruments these passages are usually controlled by valves operatedby keys. For instance in the accordion, which is a small portable reed wind instrument with a keyboard, bellows of many folds are provided to which is attached a keyboard with from five to fifty keys. 'I'he keys on 'being'depressed while the bellows are being worked open valves admitting Wind to the reeds. The pitch of the note is determined by the length and the thickness or stiffness of the reeds. This is especially true in case of free reeds. n

The most valuable characteristic of a reed is its power of producing all the delicate gradations of tone between forte and piano by virtue of a law of accoustics governing the vibration of free reeds, whereby increased pressure of wind produces a proportional increase in the volume of tone. The sound produced by the free reed itself is weakand usually requires to be reinforced by means of an additional column or stratum of air.

' ency of .air set into periodic pulsations to divide into aliquot vibrations or loops, producing the phenomenon known as harmonic overtones or upper partials. It is-,necessary therefore in tuning such instrument to avoid the weakening or changing of the material or shape of the reed itself.

The herein above description illustrates the conditions under which reeds operate and function in the various reed instruments. A reed or vibrator in general when set in periodic motion by the Aimpact of a current of air, produces corresponding succession of air puffs, the rapidity of `which determines the pitch of the musical note.

The reed or vibrator, an end of which is fixed over a frame, such as an oblong rectangular frame, swings through the frame or its opening freely backwards and forwards like a pendulum while vibrating. The adjustment of the pitch in tuning the instruments is a complicated task. For instance intuning an accordion, it is necessary kto slightly bend the reed. This creates va change of flexibility so that it has to be compensated for by filing across the fixed end of the reed. Even then the airspace at the tip of the reed is altered. The complex conditions in obtaining the true pitch requires lengthly and tedious tuning operations. After a few tunings the -reeds lose their resiliency and conditions change so far that the reed has to be replaced. VThis involves practically the complete disassembly of the entire` instrument. Due to the physical changes to which the material of the reed is subjected during such tuning, it was necessary to make reeds out of special expensive materials.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a method for tuning the reeds of musical instruments, by adjusting the length of the reeds relatively to a fulcrum by changing the position of the reed relatively to its support; and another feature of this invention is to substantially simultaneously adjust the frame element adjacent the free end of the reed so as to maintain the same relative position between the free end of the reed andthe adjacent end of the opening.

air opening in which the reed Works are adjustable to maintain a constant relation between them at the various adjusted lengths of the reed.

Another object of this inventionrisftio.` providev a reed block or reed frame with mounting ele.-

ments to support the reed andl also to support 'y the edge of the air passage opening adjacentth vibrating end of the reed,.with longitudinal adinstability;

Another object of this invention is to provide a. reed' mechanism for reed instruments; the tuning. or pitch adjusting operationen which does not invo'lve'ling or bending the reed in a fixed opening; but allows; easy and accurate tuning where the pitch of the reedl is tuned by adjusting its length andv also adjustingr the opening according to the reed adjustment;andwhereinthetuning' or instruments is` greatly' facilita-ted; andl the life ofthe' reeds and; of' the` instrument is prolonged'. Convenience or arrangement; simple construction, lightness and comparative inexpense. of manufacture arefurther' objects which have been borne" in mind in the-development of the invention.

I am aware that some changes may bernade in' the general arrangements''andY combinations of they several' devicesL and parts, as well asin the details' of construction thereof 'withoutv depart'- ing from thespirit and scopeof the present in`- vention', hence I1 donot limit my-inventionfto the exact' arrangement and combination off the said vdevice and parts as described in; this specication; nor doIconfi'ne myself tothe exact details oic the`- construction of thesaid parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

With the foregoingfand other objectsin View, whichwvill be madema'nifest in the following detailed-'description and speci'cally pointed. out in the appended 'claimsg reference is hadY to` accom'.- pa-nyi'ng drawing for theillustrative'embodiments of the-invention, wherein:l f

Fig. 12 is somewhat` diagrammatic sectional view offthe reed'J device in on position.

Fig; 2v isy thel same4 v-ievv'as-Fig.v 13 showing: the -reed and opening shortened;

Fig. 3l is a1v fragmental pla-rrV view of? a. reed bloeit; with my reed'` piat'esf and device in. posi;-

'tion.

Fig; 4' isa topplaneyieW/oi'asingle reed [plate and reeds on it constructed? inlv accordance with my' invention. Y v y Fig. 5is1 a sectional View.; takenon. lines 5:-5 of Figa 4.

Fig". 'YI isf a detailfplan view` of; myvv reed; plate,

and?

Fig;v 8 is a. perspective view-off my reed plate.

The loereindescnilcied` embodiment of myinv-ention` is' particularly adapted for' useA in; connection with accordionsand: harmonicas, but. the same arrangement andi principle4 of. operationcan be adopted for other reed,V instruments.. lhe

takenon: lines) E-S the air ilow caused by the bellows of the accordion. IThe top of each compartment is covered by a reed plate i6, which is suitably held in place by wax, screws or the like, and sealeda at the edges so asztoprevent escape o-4 air except through the usual air passages. The reed plates I6 are oblong, rectangular frames. Each reed plate I3 has a `pair of substantially parallel openings I8 extendedA longitudinally intermediate the ends thereof.. Theopenings IB in the herein illustration are elongated slits each conforming to the width ofV the-reed used.

In order to accommodate oppositely acting reeds on the opposite sides of the plates i6, each reed plate to has on the.. oppositefaces thereof longitudinal grooves: i191 which are contiguo-us with the respectivefend'sz oi-*the air openings'l. The depth of." each groovenll is preferably the same` asthe Vthickness of the reeds. used:r on the plate, so that/when a. reedisy held in either of said-grooves: [Si the top ofthe reed is'preferably at the level'. of the top of; the recessesformed by theA grooves it. TheseA grooves: t9 may extend-'to the endsioi the reed plate ll or may be stopped short of; the ends.- In the herein.l form they,"A are shown short so as to avoid the need forwaxi'ng and. sealing ati theendsz of-V the grooves flzlf. The intermediate portion ofthe-reed plate If isrezces'sed' acrossitszentire` Width. and .to aa'length corresponding to: the'. length. of thel air openings 43: so that the reedsfoverlying thevopenings-z i8 have. their.' lower; edges; in; registry.' with the: top or the recessed. plane in'. the middle or: the reed plate, faces;.` Each reed. platei I6. is symmetrical sol that: its faces: and positions; are interchangeable; .f y

f Ai. reed l'V is` heldi inone. groove t9; on one;y face ot.` the reed. plat/e5 l-. Another reed122is held in. the groove. lfS-*on thexother facerof the reed plate l5 diagonally 1 opposite the r-st. reed 2l. The reeds 2l and 22 extend over thefrespective slitsor air openings t8 so as toqbevibrated' by thefcurrent' of. airy owing-g-thrcugh saidairopenings ES; yThe yreeds 2l, and 22 are vibrated by aircurrent -flowingrespectively in oppositev di:- reetions.l The-reeds 2t and 22 arefniadezoi suitable resiliently flexible material, such` as clock spring steel. Each reedl is. slidablefin its groove so asA to extendover` its air opening ,-lS. tof aselected distance. The par-tof the. reedprctruding beyond the; inner end of itsV groove is: the-vibrating part. v The inner endV ol? the groove.- le adjacent the recessed middle portion of. the face of the reed. plate is the-fulcrum pointwhere the vibrating portion ot the reed begins. The pitch of the'sound-created by the-vibrating reeds depends on the length` of the vibrating part of the reed. The.. length of thevibrating; part deter,- mines the arc of the swinging. of :the free end of the reed, its stiiness, and its corresponding rapidity of vibrationi under the impact. of an air current. V.'i-he1.efor'e inV tuning. the` reed, the lengthpf the reed can be varied,.by sliding it in its groove. until itsvibrating end isof the desired length. y

rJEheA air opening l8 is also varied tothe. same length asthe; adjustedlength ofthe vibrating. end of thereed. This. is accomplished; by a compensator: 23 whichormsthe: wall; attire; endet the air opening loppositethe free end of the reed. Thiscompensator 23 includes a head 24 which slidably ilts into the endiofjthe opening I8 and extends the full depth of the opening I8. A stem 26 extends from the compensator headv 24 and is slidable iny the groove I9 so asto hold the compensator in 'axial alignment with the opposite reed. `As the` reed length isl adjusted, the compensator is also moved axially so that the compensator head 2d remains adjacent the free end of the reed in all adjusted positions. In other words the end of the opening |8'is moved with the adjustment of the reed so that the relation between the vibrating end of the reed andits air opening is the same in all adjusted positions.

To facilitate tuning operations, the reeds and the compensators are held in their respective grooves I8 by suitable releasable clamps 21, In this illustration adjacent each end of the recessed middle portion of the reed plate is a clamp 21. Each clamp is made of a pair of opposed, spaced clampingr bars 28, one on each side of the reed `plate I6. A clamping screw 35 extends through each end of the clamp 21 so that the screw extends through the reed plate I6 and screws into the lower clamping bar 28. Each bar 28 has on it a short projection 29 and a long projection 3| of slightly less Width than the width of the grooves I8. The difference in length between the projections 29 and 3| corresponds to the thickness of the reed. It is also preferable that the compensator stem 26 be of the same thickness as that of the reeds, so as to render the clamp bars 28 interchangeable. In assembling the device the longer projection 3| of the bar 28 is inserted into the empty groove I9, and the shorter projection 29 bears against the reed 2| or 22 or against the compensator stem 26 respectively and is thus assuming a position substantially parallel with the face of the reed plate. The pair of clamping bars 28 are positioned on the opposite sides of the reed plate I in registry with each other and with the edge 32 of the adjacent end of the air opening I8, thereby clamping the reeds firmly at the fulcrum point. In order that the clamp 21 be always aligned, the clamp screws 33 extend through the opposite bars 28 and through holes 34 in the reed plate I6. The screws 33 are threaded into one of the clamping bars 28 so as to draw the bars 28 toward each other and against the reed plate I6 and the respective reeds and compensator stems on the reed plate. The heads of the clamping screws 33 are preferably countersunk into the adjacent clamping bar 28. Thus the screws 33 not only tighten and secure the clamp in place but also locate the clamp in registry with the fulcrum of the reeds for accurate adjustments.

The novel method of tuning includes'the step of adjusting the length of the vibrating portion of the reed relatively to its support or to a fixed fulcrum point. This step involves provision of clamping means or releasable fulcrum for the reed at an end of the air opening, varying the length of the reed extended over the opening by adjusting the reed longitudinally relatively to said end of the air opening. Then the method also involves the step of adjusting the other end of the air opening relatively to the free end of the vibrator or reed in accordance with the length adjustment of the reed. II'he final step is the clamping of the reed and the adjusted openingr in the adjusted positions by a releasable clamp, The adjusting of the air opening to correspond to the reed adjustments maintains constant relative .interchangeably fitting conditions in the air passage so that the operation of the adjusted reed is always normal. yThe pitch can be more quickly and accurately tuned because the only condition that is changed is the length of the vibrator, all other relative conditions remain approximately constant. There is no change in clearance at the free end of the reed, nor is there any weakening of the reed by bending or filing, or'in'anyvway aiecting the resiliency or condition of the materialof the reed.

The method' ofA tuning reeds by varying the length of the vibrating end of the reeds and correspondingly changing the length of the air opening co-acting with the reed, and the device for providing releasable support at a. fulcrum adjacent one end of the air opening, and adjustable wall at the other end of the air opening, permit accurate and true tuning quickly and eillciently, and serve to prolong the life and true resiliency of the reeds in musical instruments.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a reed frame having an air aperture extended therethrough, a reed projecting over said aperture, means to adjustably hold the reed in place, and compensator means extended into said aperture to adjust the aperture Wall inside at one end according to the length of the reed adjustments.

2. In a device of the character described, a reed plate adapted to be secured over the air passage of a reed instrument, the reed plate having a substantially oblong aperture therethrough, a reed slidably disposed on the plate so as to extend over said aperture, and releasable means to clamp the reed to the plate at a point opposite an end of the aperture so that a free vibrating portion of the reed projects over said aperture to a selected length, and a compensator element extended into the inside of the aperture for deilning the other end of the aperture, said compensator element being adjustable so as to determine the length of the aperture opposite to and adjacent the free end of the reed according to the length of the free portion of the reed.

3. In a device of the character described, a reed plate adapted to be secured to a reed instrument, said plate having a plurality of openings therethrough, a guide slot extending contiguously with each end of each opening and on each side of the plate, a reed positioned in a guide slot adjacent one end of each opening, a compensator element positioned in the other end of each opening and in the adjacent guide slot so as to dene the end of the opening opposite the free end of the reed, and releasable clamping means to hold said reeds and said compensator elements in adjusted positions, said clamping means including abutments into a vacant guide slot and over a reed and compensator in the other slot on either side of said reed plate.

4. In a device of the character described, a reed plate adapted to be secured to a reed instrument, said plate having a plurality of openings therethrough, a guide slot extending contiguously with each end of each opening and on each side of the plate, a reed positioned in a guide slot adjacent one end of each opening, a compensator element positioned in the other end of each opening and in the adjacent guide slot so as to define the end of the opening opposite the free end of the reed, and releasable clamping means to hold said reeds and said compensator elements in adjusted positions, the positions of said reeds and compensator elements being interchangeable in the guide slots on the opposite sides of the plate.

- 5t In: a devise for musiealinstruments, a reed` plate having. an. air passage therethrough, avihrating reedextendedoven said passage from, ani endf theres-ii, a compensator tongue extended integtheinsie oi the other end ofsa'id: air pas;- sages()A as to fer-m the end=wa11of the air pas` sage, amd"` `means tQ- adjvustablyhold, said Vibrator reedand said cempensatorftongue on: the plate aztzthe oppesite ends-of said aperture.v

6- Thecombination with a'- reed platevfor musv ical instruments having; an air aperture therethrough; and: with' a. longitudiriallyfv adjustablevreedv adjustment.

brator. reed ontheplateextended. over. saidaperture; .of a compensator elementin said aperture opposite. the free end oisaid reedjcomprising, a stem, and a` compensator head, said stem being adjustably held. on the platel so astoJholdsaid head opposite thefiee endothe reed,A and said head extending into said, air passage so as .to modify bothl the olgieniifigl and the end Wall so as to modify both the opening and. the end Wall of the air passage according to theA longitudinal 'l THQMAS W. emana.` 

